Knight Screen

It's time again for your Nintendo download update, North America, and this one is a beauty. There's a double release of an eagerly anticipated action platformer, more Wii Sports shenanigans, discounts and plenty of choices across Wii U, 3DS and even DSiWare. Let's get to it.

Missed the European Nintendo Download Update earlier this week? That was silly of you! Never mind, you can catch up right here.

Wii U eShop

Shovel Knight (Yacht Club Games, $14.99) — It's been a fairly lengthy wait for this retro-styled action platformer, and it's safe to say that it's been one of the most eagerly anticipated download titles this year. This Wii U version comes in gorgeous HD, while Miiverse integration allows players to share messages in the game. It not only references the classics of bygone eras, but lives up to them; we gave this a glowing recommendation in our Wii U eShop Shovel Knight review.

Wii Sports Club: Baseball + Boxing — (Nintendo, $9.99 permanent pass, $1.99 day pass) — The final two sports in this Wii U HD re-imagining arrive together, essentially making them two games for the price of one. In Baseball you use the GamePad motion controls for pitching and fielding while batting with the Wii MotionPlus, while Boxing utilises a Wii MotionPlus controller in each hand for increased accuracy.

Monkey Pirates (Henchmen Studios, $4.99) — This is a sea combat title in which you take on the role of, yep, a monkey pirate; there are multiple arenas and battles to take on along with various upgrades to earn. It could be a fun time on the high seas, and we'll check it out.

My Arctic Farm (BiP Media, $7.99) — This farm-sim series continues yet again, and this time you're in charge of 10 different animal creeds in a rather chilly environment. We'll let you know whether this leaves us cold.

My Jurassic Farm (BiP Media, £7.99) — You read that title correctly, as this title puts you in charge of a farm of dinosaurs, looking after their well-being while trying to turn a profit. We'll be hoping our electric fence generator doesn't fail as we play this one.

BrickBlast U (Nexis Games, $3.99) — This title declares itself to be the Future of Pong, though its trailer doesn't portray it in a particularly good light. We'll see if this is a surprise blockbuster or a dropped ball.

Wii U Virtual Console

Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (Konami, $4.99) — The final part of the original NES trilogy, this returned to the linear action platforming of the original but threw in its own fresh ideas, including three playable characters with different abilities. It's another game where restore point abuse will be the norm, and we were big fans in our 3DS Virtual Console Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse review.

Wii U eShop Promotion

Wii Sports Club — A free 48 hour trial of all sports for all players, available from 6pm Pacific / 9pm Eastern on 26th June; this activates when gameplay is initiated and is available until 31st December 2014.

Wii U eShop Temporary Discount

Darksiders II (Nordic Games, $19.99 until 8th July)

3DS eShop

Shovel Knight (Yacht Club Games, $14.99) — This eagerly anticipated Yacht Club Games release also arrives on 3DS, with those lovely pixels having the benefit of autosterescopic 3D, while this version also includes a StreetPass Arena mode. This is also fantastic on Nintendo's portable system, as we've made clear in our 3DS eShop Shovel Knight review.

Cocoro - Line Defender (Moving Player, $4.99) — A title with an intriguing premise of a Japanese setting and controlling elements in strategic battles to protect the land. You can unlock new heroes and various weapons in this strategy game, and we'll let you know what we think in our review.

Toy Stunt Bike (Wobbly Tooth, $4.99) — This sounds like a mix between Trials and Micro Machines, as you take on tricky stunt-filled courses on a toy bike, jumping over everyday items like toasters. We'll see whether this is a source of delicious fun or just an opportunity to get burnt in our upcoming review.

Hidden Expedition Titanic (Tulip Games, $5.99) — This 3DS hidden-object game also received a limited retail release in Europe, but arrives in North America as a download at a lower price. We'll try to find a fun experience for our review.

Plain Video Poker (PouncingKitten Games, $1.99) — It's a budget priced recreation of video poker, and that's pretty much all the official game page says. We'll try to maintain a poker face as we review this.

SKYPEACE (Sonic Powered Co., $0.99) — A relatively rare sub-dollar release, this looks like a simple endless runner / flying sidescroller. These games can certainly have charm, and we'll see whether this one qualifies as worth a dollar.

3DS Virtual Console

Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (Konami, $4.99) — Like the Wii U Virtual Console entry, but in this case you can enjoy the classic on the go.

3DS eShop Temporary Discounts

Code of Princess (Atlus, $14.99 until 7th July, normally $29.99)

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked (Atlus, $14.99 until 7th July, normally $29.99)

Disney's Frozen: Olaf's Quest (Avanquest Software, $19.99 until 31st July, normally $29.99)

Urban Trial Freestyle (Tate Media, $2.50 until 10th July, normally $4.99)

3DS eShop Demo

Toy Stunt Bike (Wobbly Tooth, Free)

Quell Reflect (CIRCLE Entertainment, Free)

DSiWare

Anonymous Notes Chapter 4 - From the Abyss (Sonic Powered Co., 500 Nintendo Points) — We reckon most would have thought this DSiWare dungeon-crawling series would be finished, but it's back yet again. We'll let you know what we think of this one's latest entry.

Anne's Doll Studio: Lolita Collection (Gamebridge, 500 Nintendo Points) — This continues the doll dress-up series that previously haunted our reviewer's dreams. Here's hoping for a drastic improvement.

Anne's Doll Studio: Princess Collection (Gamebridge, 500 Nintendo Points) — See above.

Anne's Doll Studio: Antique Collection (Gamebridge, 500 Nintendo Points) — See above.

Mysterious Star: The Samurai (Collavier Corporation, 500 Nintendo Points) — A samurai needs help finding a master and you assist by playing connect-the-dots. No, we don't quite get it either, we'll try to make sense of it for a review.

Summer Ubisoft Promotion

Ubisoft has discounted 17 games across Wii U and 3DS until 7th July — you can see full details right here.

So there you have it, North American gamers. Let us know what you're planning to pick up in the poll and comments below.

What will you be downloading first this week? (360 votes)

  1. Shovel Knight (Wii U eShop)36%
  2. Wii Sports Club Boxing + Baseball Pass (Wii U eShop)13%
  3. Monkey Pirates (Wii U eShop)  0%
  4. My Arctic Farm (Wii U eShop)  0%
  5. My Jurassic Farm (Wii U eShop)  0.3%
  6. BrickBlast U (Wii U eShop)  0.3%
  7. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (Wii U Virtual Console)4%
  8. Darksiders II (Wii U eShop temporary discount)1%
  9. Shovel Knight (3DS eShop)20%
  10. Cocoro - Line Defender (3DS eShop)  0.3%
  11. Toy Stunt Bike (3DS eShop)  0%
  12. Hidden Expedition Titanic (3DS eShop)  0%
  13. Plain Video Poker (3DS eShop)  0%
  14. SKYPEACE (3DS eShop)  0.3%
  15. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (3DS Virtual Console)1%
  16. Code of Princess (3DS eShop temporary discount)2%
  17. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked (3DS eShop temporary discount)  0.3%
  18. Disney's Frozen: Olaf's Quest (3DS eShop temporary discount)  0%
  19. Urban Trial Freestyle (3DS eShop temporary discount)  0.8%
  20. Anonymous Notes Chapter 4 - From the Abyss (DSiWare)  0.3%
  21. Anne's Doll Studio: Lolita Collection (DSiWare)  0.3%
  22. Anne's Doll Studio: Princess Collection (DSiWare)  0%
  23. Anne's Doll Studio: Antique Collection (DSiWare)  0.3%
  24. Mysterious Star: The Samurai (DSiWare)  0.3%
  25. One of the Ubisoft discounts4%
  26. Just one of the freebies for me2%
  27. Nothing for me this week13%

Please login to vote in this poll.